Key Avs defenseman breaks bone in right hand

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Colorado Avalanche got a very bad lump of coal in its Christmas Eve Eve game in the desert here Saturday night, as Tyson Barrie was forced from the game in the first period after blocking a shot with his right hand.

Barrie tried to shake the injury off on the bench, flexing his right hand several times and trying to put leverage on his stick blade. But he left down the tunnel for the locker room right after that. Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson put the shot on net that Barrie’s hand blocked.

The Avs have no word on the severity of the injury, but he’ll have the hand X-rayed and we could know the extent still tonight.

The Avs went with six defensemen in the game, scratching Anton Lindholm, so they had to go with five after Barrie’s loss.

The Avs will be off until Dec. 27 when they play these same Coyotes at home.

UPDATE: Barrie has a broken bone in his right hand, believed to be in the space between his thumb and forefinger. He will be further evaluated in Denver, but it’s probably safe to say he’ll be out a few weeks. His hand was wrapped in bandages after the game.